2017 Summer SUV Tyre Test

While only five patterns of tyres were tested, it was a good mix of 235/40 R18 tyres which are usually fitted to vehicles like the VW Tiguan and Volvo XC70.

The premium manufacturers were represented by Continental and Dunlop, the mid range by Hankook and Nokian, and the quickly improving Nexen represented the cheapest end of the market.

The results were surprisingly close overall. Nokian took the overall wet victory, and while the Continental was close in the wet handling test, the Nokian was in a league of its own during the wet braking tests. Hankook dominated the aquaplaning tests, with Nokian, Dunlop and Nexen close, and Continental performing the worse in the deep water testing.

During the dry tests, the new Continental showed how sacrificing a little aquaplaning performance can drastically change the dry results, where it dominated in both the dry braking and dry handling tests.

The difference in fuel consumption between the tyres was only 0.15 litres per 100/km. While Nexen won this category, it wasn't enough of a difference to have the magazine recommend the Nexen above any other tyre on test.

Lastly, all five tyres had similar results in the noise tests, but the Continental struggled a little in the subjective comfort testing.

The Results

1^st

Continental Premium Contact 6

235/50 R18

• 3PMSF: no

Very good handling and safest behaviour at the limit of grip on dry surfaces, good handling on wet surfaces

Weakest resistance to aquaplaning, average comfort

Total: 83

Dry 20

Wet 43

Comfort 6

Rolling Resistance 10

Noise 4

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2^nd

Nokian Hakka Black

235/50 R18

• 3PMSF: no

Short braking distances, excellent handling and overall the best results in the wet, good handling on dry surfaces, quick steering response and predictable behaviour at the limit of grip in all conditions

Worst fuel economy, most expensive tyre on test

Total: 82

Dry 16

Wet 46

Comfort 8

Rolling Resistance 8

Noise 4

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3^rd

Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 SUV

235/50 R18

• 3PMSF: no

A very well balanced all round tyre, highest resistance to aquaplaning, excellent grip and behaviour in the dry and wet, low fuel consumption, most comfortable tyre on test. Only lost out to two more expensive tyres

None mentioned

Total: 78

Dry 16

Wet 42

Comfort 8

Rolling Resistance 8

Noise 4

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4^th

Dunlop SP QuattroMaxx

235/50 R18

• 3PMSF: no

Good dry handling time

Tendency to sudden loss of grip on dry and wet surfaces (the tyres react very quickly to the steering inputs but this causes unpredictably), lowest lateral stability on wet surfaces

Total: 64

Dry 16

Wet 32

Comfort 8

Rolling Resistance 4

Noise 4

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5^th

Nexen N Fera RU1

235/50 R18

• 3PMSF: no

Low noise level, low fuel consumption

Long braking distance and poor handling on wet surfaces

Total: 56

Dry 12

Wet 26

Comfort 8

Rolling Resistance 6

Noise 4

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